Brake mechanism



May a, 192 3..

1,454,167 w. c. HEDGCOCK BRAKE MECHANISM Filed Feb. 16", 1920 Patented lalay 8,1923.

W s' 'r r 5 Pairs \VILLIAIM'C. HEDGCOCK," OF CHICAGQ: ILLINOIS, ASSIGN OR TO ATvI-ERiCAIiT STEEL FOUNDRI'ES, CHICAGO; ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OElNEW JERSEY." I

BRAKE- i/incnanrsar.

I Application filed February 16,1920. Serial No. 359,095. I

One object is to support brake rigging in a simple and novel manner, whereby it" is maintained in normal position at all t mes,

and which permits free movement length wise of the truck and at the same time reduces the internal friction to a minimuijn.

A mother object is to support brake rigging in a simple and novel manner whi'ch'perniits the application and dropping'of the wheels and axles without disconnecting any portion of the brake rigging.

These and other objects are awomplished by means of the arrangement disclosed on the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of railway car truck embodying my invention; and

Figure 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the same.

The various novel features of my invention will be apparent from the following description and drawings. and will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

T have chosen to illustrate my invention particularly in connection with the clasp type of brake, and further in connection with a six-wheel truck. The truck here shown includes an articulated type of side frame in which the members 10 thereof areconnected at 11. the bolster 12 extending therebetween. On opposite sides of each pair of wheels 13 brake beams 14- are posi tioned. which carry at their ends brake heads 15 having the usual shoes for cooperatinp; with the braking surfaces of thev wheels when the brakes are applied.

Brake levers 16 are operatively connected to their associated brake beams preferably through fulcrums 17, all of said brake beams with one exception being supported in part by hangers 18 connected to brackets 1.9 on the side frame 10. The brake levers are connected by two series of pull rods, one series including pull rods 20 connectingintermediate points of the brake levers, and

connect theupper ends of the levers. The

pull rods 20 are provided withja-ws ,or-'bi furcated' portions 22 having extensions for the reception of hangers23 which prefer ably are pivotally supported 'bybrackets 24-. on the bolster 12'. The lever 25 at the [dead lever end, however, is pivotally connected directly to a lateral extension 26 of the truck frame, and the pull rod'QO', instead of being connected to a lever, is connected directly to the dead lever end brake beam 14, which brake beam is supported solely by the brake levers 25 at the dead end of the tru'ckgsai'd brake beam being connected to the levers intermediate the ends" of thesame and at point considerably above the wheel axles. At the live end ofth'e truckfa vertically' upstanding bracket 27 is providedito support the associated. hanger 23 connected to 'a'jawextension of the associated full rod 20.

lb will be noted'that the rigging is supported primarily by a series of vertical links 23 which are pinned to the brackets cast integral with the truck bolster, the lower ends of these links being connected to extensions of the pull "rod iaws. This arransgement keeps the brake rigging in a nor- 1 mal position at all times. and permits free movement lengthwise of the truck. It also reduced the internal friction of the rigging to a minimum. t

It will be noted that at the dead lever end of the truck the lever is inned directly to the extension of the truck frame and sup ports the brake beam and brake head direct without the use of any additional hangers. the brake beam being located at a point considerably above the wheel. axle to make possible a direct connection with the associated pull rod. This construction keeps all the pull rods above the axles. which permits application and dropping, of the wheels and axles without disconnecting any portion of the brake rigging. It will be understood that the brake rigging is the same on each side of the truck;

In the operation of the brake mechanism, it will be understood that when lOIfililIlfi power is applied to the brake'levers 16 at the live end of the truck through the pull rods directly connected thereto. all of the pull rods 20 and 21 will be placed in tension and the brakes applied and when the tension is relieved the brakes will be released the movements of the rigging being free With a minimum amount of friction due to the means for supporting and suspending the brake rigging.

There may be various modifications of my invention, and it is my intention to cover all modifications of same falling Within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In brake mechanism, the combination of brake levers, pull rods operatively connecting said levers, and hangers connected to the ends of said pull rodsoutwardly beyond the point of connection between said levers and rods.

2. In brake mechanism, the combination of brake levers, a pull rod ope'ratively connecting said levers, and hangers connected to projections of said pull rod,

3. In brake mechanism, brake levers, pull rods connected to said levers and having extensions, and pivotally mounted hangers connected to the extensions of said pull rods for maintaining the brake rigging in normal position and permitting free movement lengthwise of the truck. I

4. In brake mechanism, the combination of brake levers, tWo series of pull rods, one xeries COIIIIBCtiIlg the bl'ilnG levers at intermediate points and the other series connecting the brake levers at their upper ends, certain of said pull rods having extensions, and hangers pivotally connected to said extensions for maintaining the brake rigging in normal position and permitting free movement lengthwise of the truck.

5. In brake mechanism, the combination of a truck side frame having a lateral extension, a brake lever pivoted to said extension, a brake beam connected to an intermediate point of said lever, a pull rodconnected to said brake beam at a point above the associated. Wheel axle to permit dropping of the latter Without disconnecting the brake rigging, and a hanger connected to an exten sion of said pull rod. I Y,

6. In brake mechanism, the combination. of brake levers, two series of null rods con necting said levers and being in different horizontal planes, all of said pull rods being located above the Wheel axles to permit dropping oi the Wheels Without disconnecting the brake rigging, and supporting hangers connected to extensions of some of said pull rods.

Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 9th day of February, 1920.

WILLIAM C. HEDGCOCK; 

